July 26 would mark the 11th year of India’s Kargil victory over Pakistan. Ex-servicemen in Bangalore are planning a function to remember the 527 soldiers who laid down their lives in that war.
July 26 would mark the 11th year of India’s Kargil victory over Pakistan. Ex-servicemen in Bangalore are planning a function to remember the 527 soldiers who laid down their lives in that war.
This year, however, the Kargil Vijay Diwas will be observed on July 25, as it is a Sunday. Retired Air Commodore Chandrashekhar said, “We want Bangaloreans to participate in the celebrations and understand the contribution of the armed forces in the creation of the nation’s history.”
The celebration would begin on Thursday morning with the kalasha (pot) receiving function at the proposed war memorial site in the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain park. The Citizens Society of India had started a journey 11 years ago to collect water from 21 rivers across India. The kalasha holding these waters will arrive at the City railway station at 3.45 pm, and would be received by a few servicemen at the war memorial at 4 pm.
The kalasha will then be escorted to the Vidhana Soudha, where chief minister BS Yeddyurappa would receive it. In his absence, home minister VS Acharya would do the honour. Following this, the kalasha would then travel to Delhi from the City railway station.
Mentioning that Karnataka was the first state in India to have a war memorial, Colonel SS Rajan said that the event was preponed by a day to enable Bangaloreans to participate in the celebrations and pay homage to those who laid down their lives to let the rest of India live peacefully. “A salutation and a bouquet will say it all; in fact, it is their presence which we are looking forward to,” he said.
Inviting all Bangaloreans for the event, Lt Col GV Sreedhar said citizens could also see for themselves the way the memorial was taking shape. “The restructured park will become green and more organised after the memorial is completed. It will be a multi-religious temple,” he said.
Discussing how the war memorial, Major General Nanjappa, Vice Admiral Jacob, Colonel Bopaiah, Brigadier Chandrashekhar and Wing Commander KJ Bhatt said that the final judgment on the project was expected on July 26, the same day that the nation would celebrate the Kargil Diwas. They said the Supreme Court and Yeddyurappa had given the green signal after a number of flip flops which had shocked the armed forces.
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